Chapter 26: Chapter 26

“I’m not complaining,” Cole said. “Today’s been one of the best I’ve had in a while.”

“Getting drilled by Webster and eating leftovers I got from the hospital marks a good day for you?” Brady shook his head. “Your life is a serious shade of fucked up.”

His breath caught when Cole rested a hand on his thigh. He couldn’t feel the weight, and there wasn’t any heat, but he felt it, just the same. It dawned on him after staring at it for several seconds that he would have instantly knocked it away forty-eight, even twenty-four hours earlier. Now, he simply waited. Waited for whatever it was Cole wanted to say. Or do.

“You know it’s because of you.” Though his voice was much lower than the noise coming from the TV, Cole’s words came through as clear as if he’d whispered them right in Brady’s ear. “Whatever happens…thank you. For not kicking me out.”

“You don’t have to thank me. We made a trade.”

“You don’t believe that. Not entirely.”